Friday, February 15, 2008

Berkeley Postscript

When I went to Berkeley the day after the City Council meeting to visit the Marine Recruiting station, I also stopped by the site of the protest the night before. There I found the ashes of the American flag that had been burned by the leftist radicals in protest. As I sifted through the dirt to properly dispose of the melted bits that remained, I found four stars, singed, yes, but still stars nonetheless. I think these stars serve as a poignant reminder of our efforts to defend the Constitution and our republic against the mindless.

One star will go to Joe Smet, a Marine veteran who worked tirelessly to promote the petition far and wide.

One star will go to Gerald Humphrey, another fellow Marine veteran who stood alongside me when I was at Berkeley.

One star will go to the Marine Recruiting Station, where today's Marines stand in defense of our Constitution and the American way of life. When I visited with them, they were unequivocal: "We are open for business and we will continue to be."

And the last star will go to me, as a personal memento of my efforts and as a symbol of the special trust that so many people chose to put in me as I worked to represent their views.

While there is still work to do, the Berkeley City Council has retreated from its most egregious folly. It still offends, yet it no longer offends the Constitution. Had we not all come together to speak in protest, I doubt that we would have seen this result.

I'm Honored Nick. When I seen your post. I was overwheled and started to shake and tears came to my eyes. This gift means the world to me. It will be among my most treasured possessions. Semper FiJoe Smet USMC 68-71